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So far, I have covered Ferrari, BMW, Renault, Toyota and McLaren, the top 5 if you will, now it's on to the bottom 5, Red Bull, Williams, Honda, Toro Rosso and Force India. To view the original article click here Back into holiday mode: Case, packed

Formula 1: We're All Going on a Summer Holiday - The Bottom 5

by Ben Auty (Senior Writer)

38

854 reads

Opinion

August 06, 2008


 

So far, I have covered Ferrari, BMW, Renault, Toyota and McLaren, the top 5 if you will, now it's on to the bottom 5, Red Bull, Williams, Honda, Toro Rosso and Force India.

To view the original article click here

Back into holiday mode:

Case, packed... Sun tan lotion, applied... Union Jack towel, rolled... Sun, check... Sea, cold... Sand, itchy... Plane tickets, OH NO, where are those bloody plane tickets... TAXI!

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Red Bull

It’s been somewhat of a mixed bag for David Coulthard and Mark Webber this season.

They have been very quick on some occasions, but on others they have been distinctly average in the midfield. They tend to blow hot and cold for the strangest of reasons.

They have a good combo, and both DC and Mark are capable drivers, but they just don’t seem to have hit that groove so far this year, bar the odd flash of genius.

Red Bull were blessed with the great news that hot young talent Sebastian Vettel will be joining them next year from sister outfit Toro Rosso. This was a welcome boost for both Red Bull and the young prospect.

I think DC may already be in retirement mode. As for Webber, he seems to be driving very well. In terms of mentoring for the youngster, he is the man for the job. The two together in a reliable fast car, will be a dynamite combination.

With a 9/11 finish in Hungary and a 13/DNF in Germany, the form from the start of the season clearly hasn’t carried on. However, the drive and determination is certainly there.

Red Bull is the highest performing bottom 5 team right now. Keep your eyes peeled for a big fight back soon hopefully.

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Williams

Oh, what has become of my beloved Williams? Back in the day when I was a young ‘un, Williams were my “Other” team when McLaren didn’t do so well.

As I grew up, I sided with McLaren but always had a soft spot for Frank’s fighters. As of late, they have moved down the pecking order and the results are just not there for them.

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38 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. steven stones 11 months ago

    I got firsts! Good write up my man. It was enjoyable indeed and I think, actually spot on. Your opinions and worries, especially about Williams are almost entirely in line with my own. So yeah, I loved it. Who said sequels are never as good as the original!?

    I really do hope 2009 is a better year for Williams as well. Back in my kiddy days just getting into Formula 1 I was a fan of them too.

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    • Ben Auty 11 months ago

      Thanks Steven, glad I struck a chord and you agree with my comments and concerns ... Sequals are always as good as the originals when the Bleachers are in town ! Ha ha !

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  2. mark andrew 11 months ago

    Here it is , part 2 , another nice effort , 5 stars .

    First of all yor article looks great with the little team badges , i think you may start a new craze with them .

    Williams are under-performing , its sad to see , i know they can be a lot better than they are doing , but with drivers like Vettel pushing in a Rosso , what can they do .Rosberg has been unlucky in Monaco and Silverstone and we all know he is better than his performances this year , Nakajima is virtually still a rookie , its his first full season so give him another year to prove himself , i think he will .

    Force India , No surprises , they dont have the funds , they dont have the right gearbox , they lack a good car , they have two very good drivers who cant show their true pace , main reason for my thoughts on the F1RT when i said cars should be more even .

    Red Bull are doing a good job , they need to polish things up a bit and they will be up there , with DC remainina test driver they will still be able to improve each race after 2008 season finishes , Vettel will be a wise choice for christian horner , Mark Webber is starting to show us bit by bit that he can be supremly fast with his 2nd at Silverstone in Qualy .

    Torro Rosso , they will stay i think , but they have to get Vettels replacement spot on , and maybe even a new replacement for Bourdais , its a shame for him , i thought he would be a star with all the hype over him in champ car .

    Honda , they are on the up no doubt about it , but the progression is way too slow for my liking , Brawn will turn them around . they have two very talented guys , i hope they give Button a car to compete next Year .

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    • Ben Auty 11 months ago

      Hey thanks buddy ... Thanks for the stars !

      Glad you like the little team badges, I thought they where a nice touch, I came up with the idea after I saw Ryan Woods article with his pics in and I got a crash course off the man himself and boomshanka ... There you have it ... Some tasty little treats on my article !

      I think reading down your comments I agree with all of them mate, got some good points in there and lets wait and see if we are right hey ?

      Thanks again mate, as always ... Its appreciated !

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    • mark andrew 11 months ago

      No worries mate .

      I see another POTD in the bag for the BE NAUTY collection . you Have more POTD articles than Z F .

      Cool .

      We will have to see if we are right ben , i have a feeling the bottom 5 will only Improve massivly by next year . Except Red Bull , they are there almost .

      Loved the Badges , so much so that i saved them all to my Pc , ive only used the Mclaren one tho , as a screen saver .

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    • Ben Auty 11 months ago

      Yeah thats 9 for me now ... Love it ... Thanks mate !

      Glad u liked the little logo's !

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  3. Miles Black 11 months ago

    Excellent high quality writing Ben, are you sure you are not a ringer sent in from another site writing on here to raise your profile? Your work is always well researched and put together, so well done again my friend, great writing.

    Nothing to debate from me, I agree with all your points, if I was to write this article I would have done it just like this, I swear I would, thanks Ben, its a great artcicle.

    5 stars and POTD again young man.

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    • Ben Auty 11 months ago

      Thanks Miles ... No I am not a ringer, I tell ya what mate ... I wish some big website would pick me up so I could be a ringer ... I would still come and visit, I promise, ha ha !

      Glad you enjoyed mate, thanks for stars and POTD !

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  4. Billy Sexton 11 months ago

    nice read mate, you get my PotD vote yet again :)

    liked the little team logos as well they look pretty neat.

    personally, i think that all those teams apart from red bull will focus on 09 90% of the time.
    RBR are still in the hunt for 4th place and i reckon if mark webber and DC can squeeze some good results out of the car then it'll be an interesting battle with toyota and renault.

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    • Ben Auty 11 months ago

      Thanks Billy mate, thats awesome ... I think you are my favourite fan, ha ha !

      Yeah the team logo's where a sweet touch, gonna give the credit to Ryan Wood for that one ... He inspired me on this !

      Good comment ... I think I can agree with that but I think if they can develop 09 chassis rather than take a 4th place this season ... But you never know ?

      Thanks again for your comments Billy mate !

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    • Billy Sexton 11 months ago

      haha woo hoo!

      the battle for 4th place will be an interesting one... personally, i think toyota will get it... but they've got to be conistent... good points at most races.

      i reckon red bull will start shifting toward 09 but i think they want to give DC a nice farewell, so they'll have to develop to a certain extent

      renault look to be hitting their stride as well, so if they can keep up the good results then we'll be in for an equaly epic battle for fourth as the top two places (ok maybe not as epic :P)

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    • Ben Auty 11 months ago

      Yeah Toyota have the form for sure and I think they will continue being up there and Red Bull will struggle to get the jump on them this season ?

      Vettel / Webber will be immense ! ... I cant wait to see them in the same team !

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  5. carol auty 11 months ago

    nice one Ben ... liked the arty bits that you included .. got to be 5* and pick of the day from me ....

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    • Ben Auty 11 months ago

      Thanks mam, ha ha ... Glad you like ... Told ya I would do you proud, ha ha ... Thanks for stars and POTD ...

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    • mark andrew 11 months ago

      Ben , you and your Mum are Hilarious mate .

      Every time i read down an article i see the words " Thanks Mam ha ha " ,..................its cool .

      My Mum would definatly show me up , she is a wind up merchant , and tells everyone that her real son was swapped with me at birth , as a joke of course but still , she freakin peeeees me off :-) .

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    • Ben Auty 11 months ago

      Ha ha ha ... Sounds funny ... My mam is cool luckily otherwise I wouldnt be telling her about this place !

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  6. Michael Griffin 11 months ago

    Nice one Benny boy, pics look good mate. I agree with you on all counts, and I am surprised that Red Bull are in the bottom 5.

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  7. Andrew McNair 11 months ago

    Good work Ben.

    I'm disappointed with Red Bull this season and with DC if I'm honest.

    I really hope it picks up.

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    • Ben Auty 11 months ago

      Yeah I know ... With my GP predictions I had Webber right up there on a few of them ... he even got 2nd on the grid in Silverstone I think and finished like 10th ... Crazy ... They are certainly a capable team but just havent had their finger on it have they ... I dont know about picking it up before end of this season, thats a tall order but DEFO next season I think they should be a midfield front runner !? Only time will tell ... Thanks for checking in Mr McNair ... Appreciate it ! ... Sorry to hear about your Rangers the other night ... Apparently they all went to sleep ?

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    • Andrew McNair 11 months ago

      I just wish I had slept throught it!

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    • Ben Auty 11 months ago

      But a true fan wouldnt do that mate ... You will be back next season / next game toe to toe with your mates shouting for them ... I will be toe to toe with my boys back in the terraces for my boys too ... Even though we are destined for a pretty average season !

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  8. Nick Auty 11 months ago

    fastastic follow up article. i will be honest i was expecting this to be a little bit like "the Speed Series" of films - Not bad but the first one was better - but i was wrong ! very wrong.

    i think with red bull they defo stand a chance with vettel behind the wheel. give him a good car and i think he defo has the talent to go far.

    as for williams. i some how dont think we will ever see them in their hayday way. they were fantastic back in the 90's and i think it is just a case of finance at the end of the day. i wouldnt like to think i was funding it all.

    Honda - you are right about button. has potential, and as you say. they said 07 / 08 seasons would be slow and just building up to an explosion of good things - i just hope it is and that jenson aint left out in another poor car.

    with toro rosso - they have never really been there have they ?? they have had luck and little "runs" but nothing special and i dont think we will see anything special next season either

    force india - always looking the weak team - and that thought is even more cemented into my head after our visit to silverstone - just dont seem to have started yet. in fact so much so i think they are still in pre season. yes i understand they are a new team. i just hope finance is kept for them and given time i hope they turn into a half successfull team

    * * * * * and POTD - good article !!

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    • Ben Auty 11 months ago

      Cheers man ... Appreciate your comments and stars and POTD !

      With Williams I wouldnt say we wont ever see the heyday again, I think they will have their chance up topm just not yet maybe, you never know so never say never ?

      Would love to see Button challenging Lewis .. BRIT on BRIT !

      Cheers for comments again ... See ya at work tomorrow !

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  9. Ryan Wood 11 months ago

    Great article ben, POTD!

    I think the bottom 5 teams will be focusing their attentions on 2009 now, especially Honda as you've said. Williams were also my second team, after Mclaren of course, and after Nico's 3rd place in Oz, i thought 'oh yea' Williams are back. Its a real shame to see them dropping down the order, but their fighters and will be back!

    Oh and today I found out that my mums friend's wife, works for Force India, quite a high position, and said she would organise for me to look round the garage and meet the drivers at Silverstone next year. So that should be good, hopefully be able to run to the other end of the pit when Mclaren are No.1 and snoop around ther.

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    • Ben Auty 11 months ago

      Yes Rosberg was strong and I thought they where going to have a great season but it died a death ! Shame !

      Oh man if you can get in the paddock like that then well done man ... If you need a friend to come along you know where I am mate ;) Ha ha !

      Thanks for POTD !

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  10. Long John Silver 11 months ago

    what do you think we shud do the the Kimster Bennie (may be hide all his Vodka?)

    for spoiling Mallya'ls boys part by cramming into their car in Monaco, and then waltzing out of the pits ?

    am a die hard tifosi, but I felt bad for their team ?

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  11. Long John Silver 11 months ago

    cheers Ben - catch ya tomm mate, good read

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  12. Alan Bass 11 months ago

    genius, ben....and you do it again

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